CPU
GPU
Ryzen 5 2600E
Ryzen 5 1600
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar Ryzen 5 1600
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2600E | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ✅ Superior gaming performance | ❌ Lower gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) |
| Longevity | ✨ Modern (Zen+ (2018−2019) / 12 nm) | ✨ Modern (Zen 2 (2017−2020) / 14 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Ryzen 5 2600E | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($0) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($144) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Ryzen 5 2600E and Ryzen 5 1600
Ryzen 5 2600E
The Ryzen 5 2600E is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 19 September 2018 (7 years ago). It is based on the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.1 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 12 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4 Dual-channel. Passmark benchmark score: 12,346 points. Launch price was $149.
Ryzen 5 1600
The Ryzen 5 1600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 11 April 2017 (8 years ago). It is based on the Zen 2 (2017−2020) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.2 GHz, with boost up to 3.6 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB (total). L2 cache: 512K (per core). Built on 14 nm process technology. Socket: AM4. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 12,261 points. Launch price was $219.
Processing Power
Both the Ryzen 5 2600E and Ryzen 5 1600 share an identical 6-core/12-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4 GHz on the Ryzen 5 2600E versus 3.6 GHz on the Ryzen 5 1600 — a 10.5% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 2600E (base: 3.1 GHz vs 3.2 GHz). The Ryzen 5 2600E uses the Zen+ (2018−2019) architecture (12 nm), while the Ryzen 5 1600 uses Zen 2 (2017−2020) (14 nm). In PassMark, the Ryzen 5 2600E scores 12,346 against the Ryzen 5 1600's 12,261 — a 0.7% lead for the Ryzen 5 2600E. Both processors carry 16 MB (total) of L3 cache.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600E | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 6 / 12 | 6 / 12 |
| Boost Clock | 4 GHz+11% | 3.6 GHz |
| Base Clock | 3.1 GHz | 3.2 GHz+3% |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB (total) | 16 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 512K (per core) | 512K (per core) |
| Process | 12 nm-14% | 14 nm |
| Architecture | Zen+ (2018−2019) | Zen 2 (2017−2020) |
| PassMark | 12,346 | 12,261 |
Memory & Platform
Both processors use the AM4 socket with PCIe 3.0.
| Feature | Ryzen 5 2600E | Ryzen 5 1600 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | AM4 | AM4 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 3.0 |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 64 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ✅ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 24 |
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